Pure Project
Guidelines For Householders On Domestic Waste Collection
Householders who generate waste are required not to “hold, transport, recover or dispose of waste in a manner that causes or is likely to cause environmental pollution”
(Section 32 of the Waste management Acts 1996 – 2005). Environmental pollution is wide ranging and can simply be a visual thing. Waste must, therefore, be properly stored.
The same Waste Management Act requires the holder of waste not to “transfer the control of waste to any person other than an appropriate person”. This means that:
- Everyone who collects waste must be authorised to do so (by Wicklow County Council).
- Until the authorised collector picks up the waste ownership remains with the householder. If the bin or bag is left out and blows around or is attacked by birds/dogs then the householder is still responsible until the collector picks it up.
Fortunately County Wicklow has a large number of waste collectors for every type of waste both hazardous and non-hazardous. A list of current collectors (in no order of preference) of household domestic waste is attached.
Wicklow County Council itself operates a wide range of recycling facilities and details of these are also attached.
Every householder should ask a series of questions before engaging any waste collector (whether for household waste, discarded clothing, furniture, construction waste etc.)
- Have you a Waste Collection permit for County Wicklow and can I see it. Every permit will have a reference number which starts WCP/WW. If they cannot demonstrate this then do not use them. You maybe breaking the law.
- What are your charges. Since 1st January, 2005 it is illegal for any operators collecting domestic waste to charge an annual flat fee which does not have an element of pay-by-use or pay-by-weight involved. So if you want to put your waste out only once or twice a month then the cost per year should be less than if you put your bin out every week.
- Must I use a bin or can I put out my waste in bags? Will you provide the bin? Where can I buy bags? Wicklow County Council would prefer if bins were used. Bags can be torn apart by animals. Bags are a health and safety issue for refuse collectors from the weight of the bag to the risk of injury from projecting waste.
- What recycling services are provided. Do I use a bin or a bag? Is there an extra cost? If I put by recycling bin more often than my dirty bin do I have to pay more? What recyclables do you take? How often do you collect?
- What happens my recyclables? This is an ethical issue. There is a world wide market for paper, cardboard, plastics, clothing and steel. Are you concerned about where your recyclables will end up?
There is significant competition within County Wicklow for domestic waste collection services. Virtually everywhere within the county will have at least two collectors anxious for your waste. Wicklow County Council recommends that you make your decision based on all the factors listed above.
Wicklow County Council would like you, however, to go beyond that. Ultimately we want the amount of waste generated to be minimised. Your purchasing decisions affect what waste you produce. Look at the packaging. Is there too much even though the product may be cheaper? Can I at least recycle the packaging. Our Environmental Awareness Team can give you advice at 0404 64120. There is also information on our website
Wicklow Waste Aware
The illegal disposal of waste on our landscape is a growing problem and one of major concern. To combat this, a new environmental initiative was established. PURE (Protecting Uplands & Rural Environments) is a partnership project which incorporates a number of statutory and non-statutory organisations including Wicklow County Council, in a joint endeavour to halt incidents of illegal dumping in the Wicklow/Dublin upland regions.
When You See Dumping In The Wicklow/Dublin Uplands
Lo-Call 1850 365 121
And The Pure Project Will Remove It
PURE, Wicklow Mountains National Park, Kilafin, Laragh, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Tel: 0404 45547 email: info@pureproject.ie web:
www.pureproject.ie
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